The Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t just off to a hot start - they’re blazing a trail straight into the NBA history books. With Sunday’s 123-115 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, OKC improved to an eye-popping 20-1, becoming just the fourth team in league history to hit that mark through 21 games.
The company they’ve joined? The 2015-16 Warriors, the 1993-94 Rockets, and the 1969-70 Knicks - all teams that went on to reach the NBA Finals.
That’s not just a fun stat. It’s a serious signal that the Thunder’s title defense is more than just legitimate - it’s potentially historic.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a team riding early-season momentum or catching opponents off guard. What the Thunder are doing right now feels sustainable, calculated, and - maybe most impressively - effortless. They’re making dominance look routine.
A Championship Core That’s Somehow Better
Coming off a 2024-25 season that saw them capture their first NBA championship since relocating to Oklahoma City, many wondered how the Thunder would handle the pressure of being the hunted rather than the hunters. The answer? With poise, precision, and a level of performance that suggests they’re not just defending their title - they’re elevating the standard.
Through 21 games, OKC leads the league in both defensive rating (103.6) and net rating (15.3), and neither margin is particularly close. That net rating puts them on pace to win 78 games - yes, 78 - which would eclipse the 73-win mark set by the 2015-16 Warriors. That’s not just rare air; it’s practically stratospheric.
And they’re doing it without being at full strength.
Depth, Defense, and Daigneault’s Design
Jalen Williams, a key All-NBA forward and one of the team’s most versatile weapons, has played in just two games this season. He’s been medically cleared, but even he admits he’s "still a little rusty."
Yet the Thunder haven’t missed a beat. That’s a testament not just to the star power of reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rising big man Chet Holmgren, but to the system head coach Mark Daigneault has built.
Daigneault has a roster that’s as deep as it is flexible. Whether he’s shifting rotations, mixing up lineups, or leaning on role players to step into bigger spots, the results have been consistent: elite two-way basketball.
This isn’t a team that relies on one or two players to carry the load. It’s a collective effort, where everyone knows their role - and more importantly, can execute it at a high level.
That plug-and-play depth isn’t just a luxury; it’s a weapon. It allows OKC to withstand injuries, manage minutes, and keep opponents guessing. And when you combine that with the defensive intensity they bring night in and night out, it’s no wonder they’ve looked nearly unbeatable.
A Scary Ceiling
What makes this start even more remarkable is that it still feels like there’s another gear to hit. The Thunder haven’t yet played a game at full strength.
They’re still working key pieces back into the fold. And yet, they’re already the clear front-runners for the 2026 NBA title - and, possibly, for the best regular season record of all time.
That’s not hyperbole. That’s what happens when you start 20-1, lead the league in critical metrics, and show no signs of slowing down.
So what happens when Jalen Williams is back in rhythm? When the rotations stabilize and the chemistry tightens even further?
That’s the part that should have the rest of the league on edge. Because if this is what the Thunder look like at 90 percent, the finished product could be something we haven’t seen in decades.
The Thunder aren’t just trying to repeat as champions. They’re chasing something bigger - legacy, history, and a place among the greatest teams the league has ever seen. And right now, they’re doing it with the kind of ease that makes you believe they just might pull it off.